Monthly Archives: May 2016

May 29, 2016 · 11:23 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the new novella

I have well and truly fallen into the rabbit hole. I think we can declare the story I’m working on a novella and possibly the start of a series. So even though I didn’t quite do a Story a Day in May, I’m calling it a win with nine short stories and one novella.

In other news, a couple of rejections this week, a couple of submissions, some Photoshop tutorials.

And that’s about it for this quiet week in May.

Writing Work:

Submissions:

  • The Bargain
  • In a Manner of Speaking (reprint)

Rejections:

  • Knight in the Royal Arms
  • The Bargain

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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May 22, 2016 · 9:16 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with Gretel and Hansel

Well, that story I was working on last week led me down a rabbit hole. I’m 7,500 words in and–dare I say it–I think I might have another series on my hands. We shall see. I plan to complete the draft of this story and, with a little luck, finish off Story a Day in May with another shorter story or two.

In other news, I sold Gretel and Hansel!

I’ll talk more about that later, when I know what issue the story will be in, but I’m very excited about the market (pro-paying) and pleased about this sale. And if you scroll through my weekly entries, you’ll see that I’ve been sending this one out, consistently, for a while.

And the biggest news this week is that the Simply the Best boxed set went on sale. And if you’ve been reading along or follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you already know all about that.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: ~ 7,500 words
  • Craft work (reading, video lectures, etc.)
  • Photoshop tutorials
  • Promo for Simply the Best

Submissions:

  • None

Rejections:

  • Auld Lang Syne

Acceptances:

  • Gretel and Hansel

Publications:

Simply the best front coverSimply the Best is in the wild! You can read more about the boxed set here and here.

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May 17, 2016 · 5:00 am

Release Day: Simply the Best!

And now … it’s live! The big boxed set of IDA winners is available for purchase. Buy early! Buy often! Well, for a limited time anyway. This set won’t be around forever. Plus, the long Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. You might need something to read. Just saying.

Boxed set cover

Six Award Winning Romance Novels

One Incredible Collection

This collection of multi-genre romances features winning novels from the International Digital Awards, including historical, suspense/thriller, short historical, contemporary, paranormal, and young adult. Simply the Best of all worlds!

Available at:

Amazon  Barnes and Noble  iTunes  Kobo

Only 99 cents!

Learn more about the collection here.

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May 15, 2016 · 8:58 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the cover reveal

So while I’m not quite doing A Story a Day in May, I am writing and finishing stories (more or less). This week, I ended up with three short stories, each a bit longer than typical flash fiction. I also have one in progress, which will go into this coming week’s total.

But I’m pleased with the challenge so far. I love reading and writing short stories and this has been a great way to experiment and try new things.

Also? I’m just a little bit distracted by the upcoming release of Simply the Best. Short stories make it far easier to get my regular writing in.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: ~ 5,200 words in three short stories
  • Craft work (reading, video lectures, etc.)
  • Promo for Simply the Best

Submissions:

  • Gretel and Hansel
  • The Bargain
  • The Life Expectancy of Fireflies

Rejections:

  • None

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

Simply the best front coverNo publications, but one coming very soon!

Keep your eyes open this week for Simply the Best! You can read more about the boxed set here and here.

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May 10, 2016 · 5:00 am

Cover reveal: Simply the Best!

So … I’ve been keeping this quiet (ha, a pun) for a while now, but The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet is included in this fabulous boxed set of other winning novels from the International Digital Awards. Read on to learn more. Then click that pre-order button. 99 cents? How can you go wrong?

Boxed set cover

Six Award Winning Romance Novels

One Incredible Collection

This collection of multi-genre romances features winning novels from the International Digital Awards, including historical, suspense/thriller, short historical, contemporary, paranormal, and young adult. Simply the Best of all worlds!

Available at:

Amazon  Barnes and Noble  iTunes  Kobo

Only 99 cents!

 

Haunted by Death ~ Dale Mayer

Death haunts anthropologist Meg Pearce…

In her last summer before college, an innocent camping trip ended in a friend’s disappearance…and destroyed her life.

 

Angel’s Assassin ~ Laurel O’Donnell

When Damien enters Aurora’s life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, he threatens to tear her peaceful world apart with shadowy secrets of his own.

 

Be Mine This Christmas Night ~ L. A. Sartor

At Christmas, finding love and a family seems even more possible…unless you’re keeping a secret.

 

A Hunter 4 Rescue ~ Cynthia Clement

Worlds Apart. Joined by Love

A unit of elite alien warriors, known as Hunters, crash lands on earth and their leader is torn between getting his men to safety or protecting the human woman he has bonded with.

 

The Fine Art of Keeping Quiet ~ Charity Tahmaseb

Sometimes staying silent is the biggest lie of all

No one expects the girl who has mastered the art of keeping quiet to join the speech team. But Jolia does. When a crush-worthy rival offers to coach her in secret, she can’t say no. But secrets have a price, and this one might cost Jolia everything.

 

The Mapmaker’s Wife ~ Kathy L Wheeler

In the midst of his worn-torn country, love posed the greater danger.

A flippant proposal and an attack on her person finds one young woman married to the mapmaker who only needs someone to take control of his ungovernable child. Feelings quickly shift into something less platonic and when the enemy gains vital secrets, her suspicions land her in jail.

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May 8, 2016 · 11:02 am

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the animals

Tortoise

For the second weekend in a row, we’ve done something fun with my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. This time, instead of volunteering at a walk, we raised money and completed the walk. Her troop raised ~1,500 dollars for the Animal Humane Society and we had a blast at the walk.

We also met this gal. She’s a youngster, only twenty years old.

The only thing left to do is bridge the girls to senior scouts (!) and eat some cake. Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s going to involve cake.

In the writing world this week, I’m doing something to shake things up a bit. I’m following along with A Story a Day in May. This week, I ended up with six short stories. I took one day off to work on edits for a story that’s in a forthcoming anthology, but otherwise, I got it done.

Now, granted, one story was a drabble (exactly 100 words), but those can take more time than you might imagine. I ended up with two stories that involve dragons, one that features a succubus, a vignette, one told entirely in text messages, and one that can only be described as crazy.

It was a good week.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: ~ 5,000 words in six short stories
  • Craft work (reading, video lectures, etc.)

Submissions:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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May 1, 2016 · 4:27 pm

Weekly writing check-in: the one with the falls

falls

I’m blogging a bit late today. I spent the morning here (see picture to the left). That’s Minnehaha Falls, and my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop volunteered this morning to help out with registration for the local MS Walk.

My job was to stand in the shelter doorway and direct people. Never has one person uttered the phrase, “Did you register online?” more than I have. My throat hurts, and I nearly lost my voice. Plus, since I’m an introvert, I’ve used my allotment of words for the month. Yes, I realized that it’s the first. Simply put, I won’t be speaking again until June.

In writing news, I not only wrote 6,400 words this week, but the first episode of season three is done! Plus, I sent out two stories as well.

And now I’m going to go take a nap.

Writing Work:

  • Writing: ~ 6,400 words, Coffee & Ghosts, Season Three, episode one. Done, at 31,00 words!

Submissions:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt
  • Knight in the Royal Arms

Rejections:

  • Like Bread Loves Salt

Acceptances:

  • None

Publications:

  • None

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